Have you ever left a full cart at a store??

[CEDmom]

Wow, what kind of grocery store were you shopping it ? The only time I ever see shelves empty is when a major snow storm is predicted.

As far as leaving your cart, I did that once in a store and didn't feel badly. If they can't sufficient staff the place they shouldn't open.

 

[MoniqueU]

Yes, due to a severe panic attack and long lines at the grocery store. I still try and avoid the grocery store at all costs. Not always easy but my mom usually goes with me. I have also left carts full of clothes at clothing stores, same reason.
If I ever took my 3 to the store we got what we needed and got out asap. If I was there with all three I was in desperate need of whatever we came for. But I can see how a crancky toddler would make me abandon ship.

 

[lulugirl]

Under the circumstances you described I probably would have done the same thing.

 

[Beth76]

I did once at Target and now for the life of me I can't remember why. I do remember that I only had a few things and nothing was perishable. I wish I could remember what happened. I *think* it was that I was waiting in line for a while and when they opened a new lane the guy invited the person behind me (who just walked up) into his line.

 

[LadyyRedd]

I agree.
I just wanted to mention that this store's weekly ads run from Thursday to Wednesday.
Now another store in town also runs from Thursday to Wednesday.

If you are near the MD area and are talking about the 2 stores I think you are, and had the bad experience at the lesser priced one, I can totally believe it. At this same store, they are remodeling the one up the street. I went in one day and they had some kind of motorized vehicle blocking the cottage cheese and yogurt. I asked the guy if he could move it so I could get to the products and he asked what I wanted. I said cottage cheese and he proceeded to pick one out for me. I said uh, no, I want to get in there and look. He then said he couldn't move the vehicle, sorry. So I went and found a manager, told them why I was purchasing the 3 items already in my cart and leaving to go to the store down the street. She said she would go have the guy move the vehicle and I said that was fine, but I was still going to the other grocery store.

Kimya

 

[AKLRULZ]

I'll get my flame suit out of the closet.

One seems to need it full time around here.

We've done it just a couple of times - meltdown with small kids and frustration like you're talking about.

 

[maxiesmom]

The only thing I would have done different is to make sure they knew why you left the cart. And that there would need to be some major changes made in the way they do business before you would return.

I will say that I dislike shopping on Sundays, and only do so if I really, really, need something. There are so many people who will not work Sundays, that the stores are always understaffed. Old signs are up, new ad signs are not up, not enough of the sale items on the shelves. I have been tempted to go to the customer service desk with a list of the items they did not have on the shelves, and have them go get them from the back for me. But there is usually a line there too.

I want to add that I work retail. They have cut so many work hours and have so few people to help customers that it is unreal! It is normal to have 1 person covering 3 areas, and be expected to hop on the registers when they are busy, leaving no one in those areas. Unless everyone writes to the companies and let them know that that is unacceptable nothing will change! It does no good to yell at anyone in the store. We are hostages to the corportation. Complain to the main office, they are the only ones who can do anything about the lack of help!!!!

 

[Serena]

I"d feel guilty too, but I would have done the same thing. And I surely wouldn't go back.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

YES!!!! I walked out of Wal-Mart after waiting in the check out line for 30 minutes. I had a full cart!!! As I was leaving a few other people walked out as well. I hate Wally World and only go back when I have a gift card.

 

[zalansky]

I loaded all my items, some perishable, on the belt to "self-pay and self-ring up" my items (about 20) at super WalMart one time on a Sunday early evening, which in of itself was a BAD idea because it was a madhouse (and that was an understatement). The paper got jammed naturally, as soon as I was about to start ringing my stuff up, and the employees ran around doing nothing to help but make excuses that someone would come help me eventually. I left every single darn thing on that counter and I try to never go to WalMart, if I can help it. I'd rather pay a little extra and get some customer service and a cleaner store.

 

[campingcorgi]

I'd have left my cart there, too.

I did leave a cart full of groceries at a store one time, actually. Unfortunately, it was after I had paid for them! It was at Kroger, and at the time they would push your full cart out a different door, and you would pull up and get them loaded. I took the kids out, put everyone into their car seats, stopped the fights, handed out snacks, etc. and drove off. I was abour 10 miles down the road toward home when I realized!! I turned around, went back, and there were my groceries waiting. I pulled up and got them loaded in and left again. No one at the store seemed to notice and the kids didn't either!!

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

I'd have left my cart there, too.

I did leave a cart full of groceries at a store one time, actually. Unfortunately, it was after I had paid for them! It was at Kroger, and at the time they would push your full cart out a different door, and you would pull up and get them loaded. I took the kids out, put everyone into their car seats, stopped the fights, handed out snacks, etc. and drove off. I was abour 10 miles down the road toward home when I realized!! I turned around, went back, and there were my groceries waiting. I pulled up and got them loaded in and left again. No one at the store seemed to notice and the kids didn't either!!

I did the same thing once. Because of the ages of my 3 children, it was easier to put them to bed and then leave my DH watching tv and head over to grocery shop about 9 to 10 pm or so. It was winter and pretty cold out as I drove the 30 miles to the grocery store that stayed open till midnight. I shopped in peaceful bliss, paid for my groceries and walked out to my van and drove home. After pulling in the garage I opened the back of my van and it was empty!! I had forgotten to pull up and pick up my groceries!

I drove back and they were still there, cold but still there.

 

[JAA'smom]

To be honest I probably would have done the same thing in your situation.

 

[NCRedding]

No, but I have come awfully close. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that I had already spent so much time on the shopping, only to have to go to another store, and start over.

I did offer the person in front of me, who was waiting eternally for a price on Newman's own dressing, $5 if she would put the dressing to one side and not buy it--I think I scared her, I was so crazed.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I had a similar experience at Stop n Shop in Shelton, CT 15 years ago. Haven't been back since.

If YOU have not customer service, then soon YOU will have no customers.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have never left a cart in the store, because I have never had a situation that warranted it (ie-child's meltdown).

That being said, had I encountered what you did on your trip to the store, I'd have left the cart too. I'd also be writing a letter to the store manager, to let him/her know about my dissatisfaction with his/her employees as well as the general condition/stocking of his/her store.

 

[goofinoff]

I left a grocery store once...my child was having a melt down! Gotta go, sorry folks!!
I also left a full cart at Sam's Club one day. I had gone with my 2 kids...as you all know, not an easy chore! I got to the register with a full cart and handed the lady my Sam's card and she said "Oh, your card expired yesterday. Do you want to renew?" I said "Actually, no I don't." (Our B.J.'s is better in our area than Sam's) She said "Well, then I can't ring you through." I asked for a manager. When the manager came down I asked if she would make an exception and she said no. So I left my cart right there! Maybe if they had made the exception, I would have renewed my membership! I now go to B.J.'s.

 

[rie'smom]

I did last week. I ran out of checks and had counter checks. At the check-out I asked the cashier if they took these checks. She said yes. So she checks and bags my groceries and goes to the manager for approval. He walks over and says they don't usually take them-ok- slow boil-then he says he would need to check to see if the check is valid-I say fine call the bank-more bubbles rise to the surface-.Then he asked if I had a check card-OOOKKK what I want to say is ******* if I had a check card with me would we be dancing here?!!!! Instead I say fine and walk out.
What you need to understand is we live in a relatively small town. I had my ID.

Anyway, I'm going back this week to tell him, "Hey guy I'm a Wal-Mart shopper.Wal-Mart took my check and I saved $27.00!"

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I did leave a cart full of groceries at a store one time, actually. Unfortunately, it was after I had paid for them! It was at Kroger, and at the time they would push your full cart out a different door, and you would pull up and get them loaded. I took the kids out, put everyone into their car seats, stopped the fights, handed out snacks, etc. and drove off. I was abour 10 miles down the road toward home when I realized!! I turned around, went back, and there were my groceries waiting. I pulled up and got them loaded in and left again. No one at the store seemed to notice and the kids didn't either!!

I did that a time or two when we had to pull up and pick up our groceries at Giant.

I'm curious as to where the OP lives! No flames from me. I've never done it, but what rotten customer service. Our Giant has really gone downhill and even though I still shop there, I don't do all my shopping there like I used to. But it's not nearly as bad as the store described in the original post.

 

[famofsix]

I was at Aldi's today and some lady was reeming out the cashier because Aldi's restocked her perishables since she had left everything in the cart, told them she'd be back in 30 minutes to pay for them, and returned in 40 minutes later. Aldi's figured she was a no show. Maybe they get alot of abandoned carts LOL SHe keep reeming out the cahsier and the cashier finally said "you said you'd be back in 30 minutes and it has been 40 minutes. Our policy is to put perishables back!"
Me, I have left a cart when the kids freaked one time but I think I just had non-perishables and fruit in the cart. My feeling is the employees would rather restock the items than have a freakout kid screaming at the top of his lungs in the store. I was doing the other customers a favor
OP don't feel bad life happens.....